If this doesn't tell USFS to STOP basing the World team solely on Nationals, I don't know what will. They need to send to Worlds those who are skating well NOW, not those who skated well (or were held up!) TWO whole months ago. It seems to work well for gymnastics. Zhang has never gotten her due domestically; she historically scores better internationally. USFS needs to get a clue. Zhang's bronze at 4CC combined with Czisny's all out bomb at a no-pressure Challenge Cup should have been the cue to send Zhang to Worlds. Zhang is hitting a TRIPLE LOOP TRIPLE LOOP in the SHORT PROGRAM, for pete's sake!

It wouldn't have mattered this year. Even taking the Challenge Cup into consideration, Alissa had the 2nd best international results this year by a mile. Even with the errors she received outstanding PCS. Looking at Polina's PCS, which was a full 8 points lower than Alena's, makes me think Agnes would have gotten slammed in PCS as well, so the alternatives were not that much better. As someone else said, the problem is with US ladies and not just isolated to Alissa.

My stomach hurts. This was such a distressing short program. From all of your commentary, even the ones who did well were marked down. I'm devastated for Alissa, but at least I hadn't pinned any hopes on her. I just wish she hadn't imploded so dramatically and thoroughly at what is almost certainly her last Worlds and probably even her last competition--because I can't imagine her even at Nationals next season.

But poor Mao! I feel terrible that she has managed to end up so low down, though I maintain hope that she'll skate a lights-out long program and make the podium. I will always hope for Mao, because she's so wonderful and unique.

Consolation: Elene seems to have done superbly except for the axel, Leonova must be feeling on top of the world, and Carolina seems to be in good shape. Did someone say that there's just about five points separating first and fifth place? Then I'm happy for Akiko as well.

Miki could have easily cruised to another World title. That girl is super consistent. ... Mao is hopeless. 3A is not going to happen, so go for a 2A + GOE. She could have gained at least 4 more points on the TES side. So stubborn, so stupid.

I totally agree. I have a feeling that the sort of 3As we see Mao does at competitions others can, and perhaps do, privately, when no one is watching. Mao used to be exceptional, competing with Yunas of this world. She has become just one of many. She is wasting her life with her obsession with 3A. She may have been a 3A jumper in her teens, but, now, judging from her physique, muscle power and her other jumps, it's clear she doesn't
have resources to do 3As. She is not a Midori Ito or a Martina Navratilova.

I totally agree. I have a feeling that the sort of 3As we see Mao does at competitions others can, and perhaps do, privately, when no one is watching. Mao used to be exceptional, competing with Yunas of this world. She has become just one of many. She is wasting her life with her obsession with 3A. She may have been a 3A jumper in her teens, but, now, judging from her physique, muscle power and her other jumps, it's clear she doesn't
have resources to do 3As. She is not a Midori Ito or a Martina Navratilova.

I seriously hope she will just ditch her 3A....it's obviously not working for her, and she doesn't need it to win. Focus on a solid 3-3 instead.

It is not always a technique issue why the girls mess up. Mental toughness is hard, unless you have been there you cannot imagine it! All the girls have gotten there with decent technique. Every coach that has skaters at that level trys different approaches to bring out the best. It is easy to criticize when mistakes are made that it is their approach and suddenly when someone skates well pronounce their technique great. Ice is slippery, good luck to all the ladies in the long. It would be a wonderful competition to see everyones best!

Thanks for those. I stand by my opinion: Alena's jumps were great, her spins were decent, her energy was wonderful...but that is a terrible program. Literally element after element with virtually nothing in between.

Found this is a bit of a flat competition to be honest, lots of small mistakes. Alena fully deserves her lead, I am not her biggest fan, but she sold her programme today. Was really hoping the Kostner would nail her performance, she still can win this. Why is Asada so obsessed with the 3A? It was no where near being round and it leave every thing else a bit flat. Disappointed for Suzuiki, she had the chance to have a clear lead but faltered on the Lutz, I really hope she gets a medal.

Makarova was my programme of the day, it was a lovely performance and now the stinker of a long to follow. Was looking forward to seeing Wagner but I didn't like the programme, I thought the music was to big for her. Really enjoyed Zhang, though she was marked a little hard. Dissapointed with Polina K's performance but at least she made it through the free and hopefully will perform better there. I think Clara Peters skated as best she can, she done very well to make it out of the prelimanary round.

I totally agree. I have a feeling that the sort of 3As we see Mao does at competitions others can, and perhaps do, privately, when no one is watching. Mao used to be exceptional, competing with Yunas of this world. She has become just one of many. She is wasting her life with her obsession with 3A. She may have been a 3A jumper in her teens, but, now, judging from her physique, muscle power and her other jumps, it's clear she doesn't
have resources to do 3As. She is not a Midori Ito or a Martina Navratilova.

She is not just one of many. Yes her technical days are behind her most likely but even if she won't be able to land a double jump she will always be a special skater, ethereal, beautiful, who skates her heart out.

Thanks for those. I stand by my opinion: Alena's jumps were great, her spins were decent, her energy was wonderful...but that is a terrible program. Literally element after element with virtually nothing in between.

Compare Alena's 3T3T with Kanako's 3T3T, Alena got higher score on her combo.
Look at the flow and the distance Kanako's combo had over Alena. It's a joke!
Her PCS should be way lower.

Alena's 3F should also get - GOE. There was a huge break before she did her flip. Mao got -GOE for her 3Loop.

Thanks for those. I stand by my opinion: Alena's jumps were great, her spins were decent, her energy was wonderful...but that is a terrible program. Literally element after element with virtually nothing in between.

The judges apparently saw a lot of things in between. A judge even gave her 8.50 for Transition.

The triple axel was her mother's favorite jump. Mao has been really close-mouthed about her loss, even cancelling a publication of her book because the publishing company made some reference to her mother's passing in the advertisement. It would likely have been a best-seller (tens of thousands of copies had already been pre-ordered when it was cancelled). Maybe doing the triple axel is something she wanted to do for her mother?

The triple axel was her mother's favorite jump. Mao has been really close-mouthed about her loss, even cancelling a publication of her book because the publishing company made some reference to her mother's passing in the advertisement. It would likely have been a best-seller (tens of thousands of copies had already been pre-ordered when it was cancelled). Maybe doing the triple axel is something she wanted to do for her mother?

The judges apparently saw a lot of things in between. A judge even gave her 8.50 for Transition.

That's what I don't get.

She starts at the center of the rink, a few moves, comes around for the 3-3, comes back around for the 3f, and then right to the 2a, spin, shakes her hips and does lots of campy posing and footwork for the next minute, finishes footwork goes right to a spin and then a final spin and ends. There was no "skating" other than the first 30-35 seconds where she set up her jumps.

I appreciate her enthusiasm; I just don't like Alena's skating (too sloppy and unrefined). That program is garbage. Agree or disagree; obviously the judges disagreed...but that's my opinion.